Welcome! This is a Non-Political and a Non-Profit site (to include its authors and contributors) and does not subscribe to any revisionist organizations. This site is only to explore the combat role and history of the European Waffen-SS in World War II. Enlistment rolls show that a total of 950,000 men (German and foreigners) served in its ranks between 1940 and 1945. This blog contains a collection of real events and information on these volunteers for historical research and documentation.

Fast as grayhounds - dogged as leather - hard as Krupp-steel

1.SS-Panzerdivision Leibstandarte SS

Both the tank ace SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann, later promoted SS-Hauptsturmführer, (April 22 1914 – August 8 1944) and the crackshot Saarlander SS-Rottenführer Balthasar 'Bobby' Woll, later promoted SS-Oberscharführer, (March 1 1922 – March 18 1996) were awarded their Knight's Crosses of the Iron Cross on January 14 1944 by SS-Brigadeführer Theodor 'Teddi' Wisch. Images from this contact sheet also includes photos of this successful Tiger crew being congratulated on the award by SS-Obersturmbannführer Joachim Peiper. All members of 1.SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LSSAH). Woll, Wittmanns gunner, had taken part in 80 of his commander's 88 kills. Like Wittmann, Woll also wears the Iron Cross First Class, Wound Badge in Black and the Panzer Assault Badge in Silver, awarded for twenty-five successful engagements. The three other members of this highly talented crew are all decorated with the Iron Cross First Class and Panzer Assault Badge. The rings marked on the gun indicate the total number of tank kills, which at the time of this photograph stood at 88. From left: SS-Panzerschütze Werner Irrgang (radio operator), SS-Rottenführer Balthasar 'Bobby' Woll (gun layer), SS-Untersturmführer Michael Wittmann (commander), SS-Panzerschütze Josef 'Sepp' Rößner (loader) and SS-Sturmmann Eugen Schmidt (driver) in front of their Tiger I S04. Image: Commons: Bundesarchiv.